Guys - it has been so long, I almost forgot my password. Although I don't post much any more, over the years this board has been the genesis of a number of friendships. I'm grateful to have met so many good folks across the country, all because of a message board founded on knife fighting monkeys, lamps and Grateful Dead threads. Of all those connections, one that has become cherished is my friendship with Steve and Beca Dally - DeadRatsClacker and ChildBride to those of us who have been around for more than a few years.

I'm posting now to try and tap the Drake's well-earned reputation for stepping up and helping friends in need. Steve and Beca need our help. As some of you may know, Beca was involved in a serious car accident right before Christmas, and endured four surgeries and a lengthy stay in hospital. She's home now, but her recovery is just beginning. They will face a mountain of medical bills. Several of us have begun a fundraising effort to help defray medical costs. The first salvo in that effort is a GoFundMe page that has been established on their behalf. The link is here:

That page provides some further details on Beca's situation. Further, we are working to organize a benefit auction in the near future, the details of which are still being sorted out. We hope to be able to bring more information on that soon - stay tuned.

Finally, keep Beca and Steve in your thoughts - they're facing a challenge but we are, together, going to pull them through this.

Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need-a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.
-Jerome K. Jerome, 1889